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back over their stay in London. Other than
appointments with parliamentary officials and
politicians likely to lend a sympathetic ear to
Wellington s cause, the major had not had any inter-
course with anyone, save for a few unwelcome
encounters with the Dowager Countess of Claverdon
and his friendship with the de Montmorencys, all of
which were perfectly unexceptional.
If he didn t know his master so well, Radlett would
have said that the major was acting as though a
woman were involved, but the batman knew better
than that. He himself had seen the Dowager Countess
of Claverdon more times than he cared to remember,
and she was enough to put a man like the major off
the entire sex forever not that his master wasn t as
hot-blooded as the next man. Radlett had seen the
looks cast in Lord Wrotham s direction, and the lures
dangled out for him wherever they were. He had also
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seen the answering disgust in the major s eyes. No,
Lord Wrotham was not one to become entangled with a
female. A quick tumble with a woman who expected
nothing more than honest payment for services ren-
dered was more in the major s style.
Still, with instincts developed over long years in the
army, Radlett couldn t dismiss his suspicions; in fact,
he would have bet a considerable sum that a woman
was at the heart of his master s odd behavior and it
wasn t the Dowager Countess of Claverdon. He
resolved to watch his master more closely in search of
further evidence to support his theory.
Certainly, the rest of the day the major exhibited a
restlessness characteristic of a man undecided about
something. This was precisely the case, for
Christopher, having made up his mind, was now faced
with the difficult task of presenting it to Alex in a
manner that would be acceptable to her a most
challenging proposition where someone as
confoundedly independent and self-sufficient as Lady
Alexandra was concerned.
A great deal of pacing about his chambers was
required before Wrotham had screwed up his courage
enough to put it to the touch, but at last, deciding that
he was going to gain no further inspiration from
delaying any longer, he strode around to the
Clarendon. There he met Alex just as she was
returning from an obviously successful shopping
expedition, if the boxes in the arms of the footman she
had commandeered were any indication. Observing the
major s eyes taking in the name of a well-known Bond
Street modiste on one of the boxes, she hastened to
explain.  It is for Ally.
The major grinned at the vehemence of her tone.
 And of course you would not think of buying anything
for yourself there, he murmured so softly that only
the two of them could hear.
The green eyes widened in surprise.  No. Why
should I?
 Why indeed? Because you might just enjoy doing
something for yourself for a change.
 Oh, but I have had this perfectly splendid
adventure.
Wrotham chuckled. He could not think of anyone
who would consider undertaking a long,
uncomfortable journey in disguise, being attacked by
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ruffians, and facing a duel a splendid adventure, and
certainly no woman he had ever encountered would
look at it as compensation for shopping on Bond
Street or any other street for that matter.
By now they had reached Alex s rooms and,
thanking the footman, she took the boxes, carefully
piling them in a corner.
 I see that there are numerous others benefiting
from your guilty pleasure at having this delightful
escapade all to yourself, the major remarked, strolling
over to the fireplace where he propped one shoulder
against the mantel.
 Oh yes. I have bought a bonnet for Ally, a doll for
Abigail, more toy soldiers for Andrew, ribbons for Mrs.
Throckmorton and Bessie, and An Essay Toward the
Improvement of Some of the Important Instruments of
Surgery, and the Operations in Which They Are
Employed by William Jardine for Doctor Padgett, she
announced, pleased with herself.
Christopher smiled as he resolved privately to find
her something special that would always remind her of
her visit to London. He stood silent, enjoying her
anticipation of the pleasure her presents would bring
and thinking rather wistfully that he could not
remember when his mother or anyone else had
thought of him in such a way. He wished more than
ever to become acquainted with the rest of her family,
to discover what such a life of warmth and affection
was like, but how was he to begin to broach his plan?
Wrotham heaved himself off the mantel and strode
over to the window, gazing at the passing scene while
he hoped for something to come to him.
Alex glanced curiously at the major. The man
seemed definitely ill-at-ease a state so unnatural in
the cool and self-possessed Major Lord Wrotham that
she could not help but wonder at it.
He looked up, saw her watching him, and flushed.
 Alex, he began. Well, he had got that out at least,
now what?  I am aware that... er... that is  Dammit, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]